Indian River County officials looking for suspect after deputy dragged during traffic stop | Video

Andrew Coffee III was apprehended after the crash. Wesley Clark was the driver and was still at-large on 8-12-2013.

Wesley Clark

Andrew Coffee IV

Andrew Coffee III

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Officials are looking for the driver of a car that pulled away during a traffic stop early Sunday near Fellsmere, dragging a sheriff's deputy who suffered minor injuries, the Indian River County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputy Brian Bell, who made the traffic stop on County Road 512 west of Interstate 95, suffered scrapes on his face, right forearm and right knee. After the Nissan Maxima sped away, Bell alerted dispatchers and continued the pursuit in his patrol car east on County Road 512.

Sebastian police also responded to the call and caught up with the passenger in the Maxima, Andrew Coffee III, 33, of the 3800 block of 44th Street of Vero Beach, in the Vero Lake Estates area. Authorities were still searching Monday for the driver, Wesley Clark, 28, who abandoned the car after crashing into a "Welcome" sign at the Vero Lake Estates entrance on 101st Avenue off County Road 512.

The events started about 3:30 a.m. Sunday when Bell pulled over the Maxima for speeding. Bell said he found Coffee in the passenger seat with a marijuana cigarette in his lap.

The deputy removed Coffee from the car and had placed a handcuff on his left wrist when Coffee broke free of his grasp, according to the affidavit. Coffee slipped back into the car and Clark drove away. Bell was dragged about 20 feet, he said.

Clark and Coffee fled on foot after crashing into the sign. A female passenger in the car stayed with the car and was not charged.

Sebastian police, along with a K-9, found Coffee in the 9000 block of 101st Court. He was charged with resisting arrest without violence, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, giving a false name while detained, theft and tampering or destroying evidence. He posted $23,000 bail Monday.

The Sheriff's Office released dashboard camera video of the traffic stop along with footage of the crashed Maxima and officers with Coffee in custody.

Coffee's son, 19-year-old Andrew Coffee IV, was taken into custody near the crash scene and charged with obstruction of justice and unlawful use of police communications. He was being held at the jail in lieu of $500 bail Monday.

The Sheriff's Office said the younger Coffee may have been attempting to help his father escape, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Thom Raulen said. Deputies said Coffee IV had an application on his cellphone that allowed him to hear the law enforcement scanner chatter. According to his affidavit, Coffee IV said he had been told his father was shot and he was using the scanner to find the deputies.